Split Stay advice

[Shanan]

I made reservations for November/December 2016 this weekend. Checking into Wilderness Lodge Club (even with the remodeling going on) on Thanksgiving Day and then moving to Beach Club (Standard) Saturday and staying there to the following Saturday. DH is not a big fan of WDW so I promised him a trip where he could easily go back to resort and chill. Initial Plan had been to stay at WL Club and just hang out at the resort on the busy days & maybe resort hop to see the decorations. Then move over to Beach Club standard view and go to parks and kick it into gear for touring.
I am now rethinking plans - go to Beach Club Standard on Thanksgiving. Hang out at resort area & do DownTown Disney on Friday - DH go to resort & I hit a park Friday night. Then we start touring on Saturday. Transfer from BC to WL Club on Thursday & check out on Saturday. (do MVMCP on Thursday night) and then he can hang out at WL while I am at the parks
Plan to do Candlelight Processional & MVMCP. Also a couple of sit down restaurants will be planned.
Any advice/suggestions/hints are greatly appreciated.

 

[bumbershoot]

It sounds like wl club is open all days of your trip. If so, why split?

 

[MARDUN]

I have split stays before and the staff has gone out their way to make the transition as smooth as possible but it is never easy. I think the beach club with stormalong bay and proximity to EPCOT and DHS is worth the split though.

 

[kollerbear]

After two years of doing splits (quadruple and tripe splits) I don't know if I'll ever travel without them again. The proximity of the EPCOT area and MK area resorts saves so much transportation hassle. The small hassle of leaving one morning from one resort, having the bags packed and checked with bell services, and then checking into another resort later that night (and getting a brand new beautiful room) is small compared to how much I hate being on the buses.

However, I don't think I would recommend transferring resorts on the night you also are doing MVMCP, especially if you want to be in your room before the party. Because you might not get to check in right away, you might find yourself a little stressed about getting to the Magic Kingdom to make the most of the party while waiting for bags or waiting for your room to be ready. I kind of think that your first plan is a slightly better one. The more remote resort first, just enjoy the holiday together at a slow pace, and then pick it up for the rest of the week at location that is closer to 2 of the parks. Not to make things too crazy, but if you're trying to definitely do the MVMCP and want that proximity to MK when the crowds have died down later the next week, I would even suggest moving back to an MK area resort for the last couple nights--maybe checking in Wednesday and having your last three nights at Contemporary, Poly, or GF. Since it's just the two of you the triple split isn't hard at all (if you're organized travelers in your room) and is fun around Xmas time.

Edit to add just a little more clarification--I've done a quadruple split (2 nights at 4 resorts) with my now husband. Granted we are VERY organized travelers (had a very organized way of managing our clothes and stuff so we only had small bags in the room, for example). He does NOT like WDW very much at all but did enjoy switching up resorts. It was like having consecutive long-weekends. He enjoyed seeing the different resorts and the different food options, decorations, landscapes, etc.. Many people said that it would be less relaxing for him to split stay but that was not our experience at all--without kids, if you can get yourself packed up decently well--splitting the stay is a great way to change up the scenery and keep a non-WDW fan on as little hot/crowded/cranky transportation as possible.

 

[goofy4tink]

I do split stays all the time. I think, though, going forward, I would take my bags with me, in a cab, to the new resort vs allowing Bell Services move the bags. I'm always annoyed when I'm able to get into my room, but have to wait until early evening for my bags!! Drives me nuts.
The parks will be crowded Thanksgiving weekend. I would choose a resort that will give you alternative things to do vs parks.

 

[Shanan]

DH perfers Epcot & DHS so I thought that if he wanted to leave a park & go back to the room then he could I promised him on last trip (October 2013) that when we went for the holidays that he would only have to go to MK one day (so planning to spend day of MVMCP all day at MK). Staying at WL - thinking could hang out at the resort, go to MK resort loop and look at the decorations.
I tend to do Excel worksheet planning so was a little concerned about switching resorts